Roadside Bomb Targets Army Patrol in Tripoli

The Lebanese army said Tuesday that one of its patrols was targeted overnight with a roadside bomb in the northern city of Tripoli.

The homemade bomb, which was made up of around 800 grams of explosives, went off at 3:15 am while soldiers were patrolling the area of Bab al-Ramel, the military said in a communique.

The explosives were packed in a metal box, it said.

The army cordoned off the area after the attack, which is now being investigated by military police, the communique added.

The army and security forces deployed en masse in Tripoli earlier this year as part of a security plan aimed at bringing back calm to the city, which has witnessed several rounds of deadly gunbattles.

The fighting mostly took place between the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh, whose residents are Sunnis, and the majority Alawite district of Jabal Mohsen.

Scores of gunmen and suspects have been charged with forming armed gangs and participating in the clashes.

G.K.

H.K.